We are braver together

Despite what this photo may convince you, I'm not the most adventurous person.

I don't like heights or rollercoasters.

I want to know what I'm getting into before I get there, so I can freak out about it in advance.

This is from a fjord tour in Norway during my whirlwind trip to four European countries in three weeks this summer. More details about that will be coming soon. 

The day before our tour I was motion sick from a five-hour train ride up to the mountains, an hour tram back down to sea level and a 90-minute ferry after that to finally reach the tiny town of Balestrand with goat farms on sheer cliffs and still dark river waters.

So when they put us in this head to toe gear, my fear radar was on high alert.

But Terry was there. My friend and travel buddy. I'm not sure she was completely okay either, we both were quiet as the 16-person rib boat backed away from the dock.

We went with it, trusting the guide, ourselves and maybe each other too.

It was fine. It was fun. We were wowed by waterfalls, bounced over the wakes from passing ferries, and pulled over to watch goats grazing (video narrated by the Spanish tourists in front of me).

You don't have to be brave all by yourself.

We have each other.

How can I help YOU be braver?

Do you want to be a leader?

The easiest way to be a leader is to be yourself. 

Really, really, really yourself.

This video is pretty much all you need to know about leadership. I watch it a couple times a year to remind myself to focus on doing what I do best as often, unabashedly and consistently as possible, and to forget worrying. About anything.

As Derek Sivers describes in his voiceover, the only other job you have is to take care of the people who "get" what you're doing. Championing them keeps you all on the path. 

It can feel intimating in the beginning. Every re-watch has me cringing. You mean leaders are that bold? I have to believe it feels less uncomfortable when we each are doing what comes naturally to us.

Not everyone is a dancing guy, but you have something special only you can give. If you keep doing that, you'll lead by example. 

Maybe people are already following your lead, looking to you to establish the rhythm. 

Notice what people thank you for, what they do because you did it first. Realize you are already leader and take care of those first followers.

See what they see in you and why they need what you naturally do best. 

And by all means keep doing it!